DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOUR IN DISTRICT PESHAWAR

Abstract

This study examines the determinants and consequences of the worst forms of child labor in District Peshawar, emphasizing the challenges faced by children in hazardous work environments and their economic conditions. The primary objectives are to identify the problems encountered by child laborers during hazardous work and to evaluate their economic conditions. To collect the data, open and closed-ended questionnaire was developed, and interviews were conducted with the administration of the Labor Department in District Peshawar. The findings reveal that child laborers face significant health risks, including respiratory issues, injuries, and chronic fatigue, due to unsafe working conditions in sectors such as brick kilns, auto workshops, printing press, Tea Shops, and the steel industry. Economic analysis indicates that poverty is the primary reason, forcing children to work to support their families, thereby sacrificing their education and childhood. The study highlights the urgent need for policy interventions to protect children from hazardous labor and to improve their economic well-being through educational and financial support. Additionally, there is a need for comprehensive strategies to enhance enforcement of labor laws and to promote community awareness about the adverse effects of child labor.